AFIA comments on safe feed/food program

The American Feed Industry Association provided comments about the benefits
of its Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program to the Food and Drug
Administration this week. AFIA's SF/SF Certification Program is the only
third-party-certified feed safety program operating in the United States today
that meets all FDA requirements for feed manufacturing.

AFIA submitted its comments shortly after FDA released a draft Guidance for
Industry document, and AFIA's comments included its support of the FDA's efforts
to recognize voluntary food and feed safety programs initiated by the industry.

"More than 300 facilities representing more than 90 AFIA member
companies already received Safe Feed/Safe Food certification, and others have
begun the process," said Richard Sellers, AFIA vice president of feed control
and nutrition. "We are pleased FDA has initiated this phase of a process that we
hope leads to future recognition of the SF/SF program and others like it by
FDA."

Among its submitted comments, AFIA "urges FDA not to adopt a
one-size-fits-all program, as many of the criteria may not fit the SF/SF
program." AFIA also urges FDA to provide criteria for auditing firms and
inspectors and suggest the frequency of third-party audits among the guidelines
it is expected to issue in the future.

The SF/SF Certification Program,
launched in September 2004, provides manufacturers of livestock feed, pet food
and related ingredients opportunities to have their facilities inspected and
certified by outside, third-party auditors to determine if they meet industry
guidelines. Plants that meet or exceed the guidelines are certified, thus
earning the privilege to use the SF/SF logo on their products, trucks,
letterhead and more.

The FDA's draft guidance document is officially
referred to as the "Voluntary Third-Party Certification Programs for Foods and
Feeds" document. According to FDA, the draft guidance describes the general
attributes FDA believes a voluntary third-party certification program should
have in order to help ensure its certification is a reliable reflection that the
foods and feeds from certified facilities are safe and meet applicable FDA
requirements.